Pita Bread
Once you try this at home, you may never want to purchase prepared pita bread again. This bread is unlike the normal process of making yeast bread--you mix the dough, shape it first and then allow it a brief time to rise. It then gets baked in a very hot oven for just a few minutes. It puffs up and creates a big pocket for filling with your choice or salads or fillings.
Ingredients
2 c. warm water (no more than 120°F)
2 packages dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons salt
5-5 1/2 c. unbleached flour plus some flour for kneading
Instructions
Pour water into a bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the top. Stir to dissolve. Stir in the honey and salt to dissolve. In Food Processor: Pour water mixture into food processor and add flour. Process with dough blade until mixture pulls together. Knead in machine until dough is smooth and elastic (up to 5 minutes). By Hand: Stir flour into water mixture and stir until mixture starts to form a ball. Sprinkle a clean surface with flour. Place dough on surface and knead until dough is smooth and elastic (5-8 minutes). Remove dough from bowl. Shape into even rectangle. Cut dough into 12 or 24 even pieces (depending on the size pita you want). Roll pieces into ball. Place on a floured surface and cover with a slightly damp towel. Roll out each ball of dough, one at a time, leaving the others covered with the towel, until 1/4 inch thick. Let rolled out circles rise for 30-35 minutes. Fifteen minutes before ready to bake, preheat oven to 500°F. Place pita on baking sheets and bake one pan at a time for 3-4 minutes. Remove from oven and flip over pita to briefly brown the other side. Return to oven for 1-2 minutes. Repeat until all are baked. Wrap in clean towel until cool enough to handle. Eat or cool completely, wrap tightly and store at room temperature or frozen.
Variations: Whole Wheat: Replace 2 c. of unbleached flour with whole-wheat flour and decrease salt to 1 teaspoon.
Poppy or Sesame Seed: Brush pitas with water just prior to baking and sprinkle with seeds. Bake as usual but do not flip and return to oven.